JP2007334181A - Multiprojection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain a high-quality display image by eliminating missing of a display image due to display abnormality of a projector in a multiprojection system. <P>SOLUTION: In the multiprojection system, in which the displaying of images as an aggregate of the partial images is made possible by displaying the partial images allocated to M units (for example, M=2) of projectors PJ1, PJ2, N units (for example, N=3) of projectors PJ3 to PJ5 displaying the partial images, respectively allocated thereto are further arranged, in such a manner that two or more units of the projectors perform display, even in any of the regions among the images; and when display abnormalities occur in the one projector among the projectors PJ to PJ5, the image data corresponding to the partial images allocated the projector displaying the same region as at least a part of the region of the partial image displayed by the projector in which the display abnormality occurs is subjected to image display processing, by using the display parameters corresponding to the display abnormality. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-projection system, an image display method in the multi-projection system, and a projector for use in the multi-projection system.

  In an image display device, large screen, high brightness, and high resolution are always required characteristics. However, it is very difficult to realize these simultaneously in a single image display apparatus. For example, the enlargement of the screen is limited by the size of parts constituting the image display apparatus, the size of the manufacturing apparatus, and the like. Further, the increase in luminance has a limit due to the display principle of the display element, and there is a possibility that the life and reliability are deteriorated. In addition, higher resolution requires more sophisticated microfabrication and may greatly deteriorate the yield of display element manufacturing.

  As a method of realizing large screen, high brightness, and high resolution, which is difficult with a single display device, a technology that displays a single image as a whole by combining multiple image display devices is a very effective method It is. In particular, an image display method using a projector as an individual image display device makes it difficult to see the boundary between the display devices by overlapping a part of the image displayed by each projector, and displays a high-quality image. Is an excellent image display method.

  However, since this method uses a plurality of display devices, the probability of failure increases. Simply put, when N projectors (N is 2 or more) are used, the probability of failure will be N times that of a single projector. Even if the failure is only one of the N projectors, a part of the display image is lost. This is a great deterioration in display quality, and in some cases, a fatal deterioration. In other words, an image display method that displays a single image using a plurality of projectors has a failure probability that is N times that of an image display method that uses a single display device as a whole when viewed as a single display device. There is a problem that the display method becomes very unreliable.

  Various proposals have been made for techniques for solving such problems (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a projection direction switching unit in addition to the configuration of a normal projection display device (projector). This divides the entire display image into a plurality of display areas (M display areas), and the projection direction switching unit converts the M display areas (M1, M2,...) Into a display area M1. , M2,... Are displayed while being sequentially switched. Thereby, the entire image can be displayed in a time-sharing manner.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example in which image display is performed in a time division manner. At a certain moment, as shown in FIG. 16A, the projector PJ1 displays the region G1, the projector PJ2 displays the region G3, and the projector PJ3 displays the region G4. At another moment, as shown in FIG. 16B, projector PJ1 displays area G3, projector PJ2 displays area G4, and projector PJ3 displays area G2.

According to this method, it is possible to display a large screen and high resolution by increasing the projection angle and increasing the image division number M. However, there is a problem that the average luminance is darker than the case where the entire image is displayed at the same time because the display area switching time is required.

  In order to improve such a problem, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 displays a plurality of projectors having the projection direction switching unit described above, for example, N projectors (N ≦ M here). It shows how to do it.

  That is, at a certain moment, N areas of the M areas are displayed on N display devices, and the entire display image is displayed in a time division manner by switching the display areas in a time division manner. As a result, the average luminance is N times that of a single display, and a large screen, high luminance, and high resolution image can be displayed. In such a display method, even if one of the N units cannot be displayed, the display itself is continuously performed by the remaining (N-1) units. That is, in this case, the brightness is only darkened by 1 / N, and the display is not deteriorated such that a part of the display is lost.

  On the other hand, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, as the first embodiment, a single projector having a plurality of light sources, a light source selection unit, and a light source mixing unit is configured as one projection unit. It is shown that a multi-projection system is configured by using a plurality. According to this, even if one of the light sources fails, the display can be maintained by the remaining light sources. In a normal projector, the failure of the light source unit is the largest cause of display failure, so the probability of display failure can be greatly reduced.

  Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, as a second embodiment, a plurality of projectors having one light source are arranged in a stacked state, and one projector unit is formed by combining the plurality of projectors. It is shown that a multi-projection system is configured using a plurality of projection units. According to this, even if a problem occurs in the light source of one projector in each projection unit, other projectors can make up for it, so that substantially the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. .

JP 2004-356919 A JP 2005-204165 A

  However, the techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above both require special projectors, or operate a plurality of projectors of the same set like a single projector. There is a problem that a mechanism is necessary.

  Specifically, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires a projection direction switching unit. This requires that the time-division display can be performed, the operation can be performed at a high speed to some extent, and the projection direction can be switched at a large angle so that a large screen display can be performed. However, this is very difficult and very expensive.

  Moreover, in Embodiment 1 in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, a plurality of light sources, a light source selection unit, a light source mixing jig, and the like are required. In addition, these must be arranged in an actual projector so as not to cause deterioration in display performance due to an optical axis shift or the like. These are very difficult to achieve or very expensive.

Furthermore, Embodiment 2 in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 must operate a plurality of projectors constituting one projection unit like a single projector. For this reason, it is necessary to adjust between a plurality of projectors with high accuracy, and it is very difficult to maintain this state.
In addition, the technique disclosed in Embodiment 1 of Patent Document 2 considers only a defective light source as a cause of display abnormality. Therefore, there is also a problem that display anomalies caused by causes other than a light source failure cannot be dealt with. Furthermore, the technique disclosed in Embodiment 2 of Patent Document 2 also has a problem that it can deal only with display abnormality caused by the inside of the projector.

  The present invention is a multi-projection system that enables display of one large screen image using a plurality of projectors, and does not require a special projector, and operates a plurality of projectors like a single projector. In a multi-projection system and a multi-projection system that can appropriately deal with a display abnormality of a projector constituting the multi-projection system and maintain display reliability without requiring a mechanism or the like An object is to provide a projector used in an image display method and a multi-projection system.

  (1) In the multi-projection system of the present invention, M projectors (M is an integer of 2 or more) display partial images assigned to the projectors, thereby enabling display of images as a set of partial images. A multi-projection system, wherein the multi-projection system displays N images (N is a number N) for displaying a partial image assigned to each projector so that two or more projectors perform display in any region of the image. (An integer greater than or equal to 1), and when a display abnormality occurs in at least one of the M or N projectors, a partial image area displayed by the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred For partial images assigned to projectors that display at least some of the same area The image data to be response, characterized by having an image display processing unit for image display processing using the display parameters corresponding to the display abnormality.

By having such a configuration, when a display abnormality occurs in at least one of the plurality of projectors, at least a part of the same region as the region of the partial image displayed by the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred is provided. A projector to be displayed (referred to as a projector that performs overlapping display with a projector in which a display abnormality has occurred) displays a partial image by performing image display processing using a display parameter corresponding to the display abnormality. As a result, even if one of the projectors constituting the multi-projection system has a display abnormality, the display can be continued without greatly degrading the quality of the entire display image. The reliability of the system can be improved. Moreover, the multi-projection system of the present invention can use a general projector instead of a special projector, and does not require a mechanism for operating a plurality of projectors like a single projector. The multi-projection system can be configured inexpensively and easily.
The image display processing unit may be configured by each projector, or may be configured by an information processing apparatus (such as a personal computer) to which the projector is connected.

  (2) In the multi-projection system according to (1), the image display processing unit includes a display abnormality signal receiving unit that receives a display abnormality signal indicating the display abnormality, and the display abnormality signal receiving unit. It is preferable to further include a display parameter selection unit that selects a display parameter corresponding to the display abnormality signal received in (1).

With such a configuration, when a display abnormality occurs in at least one of the plurality of projectors, a display parameter corresponding to the display abnormality can be selected. Then, the image display processing apparatus can perform image processing on the partial image assigned to the projector that performs overlapping display with the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred, using the selected display parameter. As a result, the projector that performs the overlapping display with the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred can perform display that compensates for the display abnormality of the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred.

  (3) In the multi-projection system according to (1) or (2), it is preferable that the image display processing unit further includes a display parameter storage unit that stores a display parameter corresponding to the display abnormality.

  With such a configuration, when a display abnormality occurs in at least one of the plurality of projectors, a display parameter corresponding to the display abnormality can be easily selected from the display parameter storage unit. For example, when each projector includes the image display processing device, the display parameter storage unit of each projector is necessary when a projector that performs display overlapping with its own projector cannot be displayed. Only the display parameters may be stored, or the display parameters necessary when any other projector has a display abnormality may be stored. Thereby, the optimal correction display about the whole display image can be enabled.

  (4) In the multi-projection system according to any one of (1) to (3), the image display processing unit further includes a display abnormality detection unit that detects a display abnormality, and the display abnormality detection unit includes: When a display abnormality is detected in a certain projector, a display abnormality indicating that the display abnormality is present in a projector that displays at least a part of the same area as a partial image displayed by the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred It is preferable to transmit a signal.

  In the case where each projector has an image display processing device, the projector detects a display abnormality by itself, and each projector itself detects a display abnormality, thereby causing an abnormality in the display. Can be appropriately detected from which projector. Note that a self-monitor function of a general projector can be used as the display abnormality detection unit, and it is not necessary to add a new function as the display abnormality detection unit by using the self-monitor function.

  (5) The multi-projection system according to (1) to (3) includes a display image monitoring unit capable of monitoring an image displayed on the screen, and the display image monitoring unit is provided in a projector. When the display abnormality is detected, the display abnormality is detected in the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred and in the projector that displays at least a part of the same area as the area of the partial image displayed by the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred. It is preferable to transmit a display abnormality signal indicating this.

  This detects a display abnormality from imaging data obtained by imaging a display image displayed on a screen or the like with an imaging device or the like, and also enables specification of a projector in which a display abnormality has occurred. In this way, by detecting a display abnormality of the projector from the imaging data, not only a display abnormality due to a malfunction of the projector itself (such as a lamp burnout) but also a part of the projection light of the projector due to a person or an obstacle or the like It is also possible to detect a display abnormality that is not caused by a malfunction of the projector itself, such as a display abnormality that blocks everything.

In addition, when a display abnormality is detected by the display image monitoring unit, the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred is specified, and the display image monitoring unit has duplicated between the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred and the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred. A display abnormality signal is transmitted to each projector that performs display.

  (6) In the multi-projection system according to any one of (1) to (5), the display abnormality is caused by a state in which the projector cannot be displayed, a state in which the projector display is unstable, and a projector. The displayed partial image includes at least one of the states in which partial omissions occur, and the display becomes unstable and the displayed partial images are in partial omissions In this case, it is preferable that the projector stops its display operation.

  The state in which display is disabled here is a state in which the entire partial image assigned to the projector is lost due to a lamp burnout, a malfunction of the power supply circuit, or the projection light being completely blocked as described above. That is. In addition, the state where the display is unstable includes, for example, a state where the lighting of the lamp becomes unstable immediately before the lamp is turned off. In addition, the state where the partial image is partially lost is, for example, as described above, the partial image assigned to the projector is partially lost due to a part of the projection light of the projector being blocked. An example is the state.

  When the display is unstable and the partial image is partially missing, the projector actively stops its display operation. As a result, the state where the display is unstable and the state where the partial image is partially lost can be handled in the same manner as the state where the display is disabled. Can do.

  (7) In the multi-projection system according to any one of (1) to (6), the display parameter includes a weighting parameter of luminance for making a boundary between adjacent projection images inconspicuous, and each projector It is preferable to include at least one of parameters for correcting a difference in luminance and color characteristics.

  As a result, even when a display abnormality occurs in a certain projector among the projectors constituting the multi-projection system, the display can be continued without greatly degrading the quality of the entire display image.

  (8) In the image display method in the multi-projection system of the present invention, M projectors (M is an integer equal to or greater than 2) display the partial images assigned to the projectors, whereby the images as a set of the partial images are displayed. An image display method in a multi-projection system that enables display, wherein N units each display a partial image assigned to each projector so that two or more projectors perform display in any region of the image (N is an integer equal to or greater than 1) is further arranged, and when a display abnormality occurs in at least one of the M or N projectors, a partial image displayed by the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred Assigned to projectors that display at least some of the same area as Image data corresponding to the partial image, wherein the image display processing using the display parameters corresponding to the display abnormality.

  According to the image display method in the multi-projection system of the present invention, the same effect as that of the multi-projection system described in (1) can be obtained. Note that the image display method in the multi-projection system of the present invention preferably has the same characteristics as the multi-projection system described in (2) to (7).

(9) The projector according to the present invention enables display of images as a set of the partial images by displaying the partial images allocated to each of M projectors (M is an integer of 2 or more), and Multi-projection in which N projectors (N is an integer of 1 or more) are further arranged so that two or more projectors perform display in any region of the image. When a display abnormality occurs in a projector for use in a system that displays at least a part of the same area as a partial image area allocated to itself, image processing is performed using display parameters corresponding to the display abnormality. Assigned to the self based on image data corresponding to the partial image assigned to the self And displaying the partial image.

  When the projector of the present invention performs such an operation, the multi-projection system described in (1) can be configured.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Embodiment 1]

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement example of projectors in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment. The multi-projection system of the present invention has a large number of projectors arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and can display a large screen image as a set of partial images displayed by each projector. Therefore, in FIG. 1, the projector will be described using an example in which the projector is a one-dimensional array only in the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment has a screen (not shown) that displays an effective image display area A surrounded by a thick line frame by partial images projected on the screen from five projectors PJ1 to PJ5. )). This is based on the concept as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the effective image display area A in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment is a size that can be displayed by two projectors PJ1 and PJ2.

  In this case, it is preferable that the two projectors PJ1 and PJ2 are arranged so that the boundaries of the partial images G1 and G2 assigned to them are completely in contact with each other. It is difficult to realize.

  Therefore, in order to make the inconsistency in the boundary portion inconspicuous, first, the M (two projectors) projectors PJ1 and PJ2 display the partial images G1 and G2 assigned to the projectors PJ1 and PJ2, respectively. A is displayed. Next, in any of the areas constituting the partial images from the projectors PJ1 and PJ2, N projectors (three projectors) are provided so that two or more projectors perform overlapping display on the areas. Partial images G3 to G5 are projected from PJ3 to PJ5.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, the projector PJ3 projects so that the partial images G1 and G2 of the projectors PJ1 and PJ2 overlap the partial images G3 from the projector PJ3 by 50%. . Thereafter, another projector PJ4, PJ5 is disposed on each of the left and right sides of the projector PJ3, and the partial images G4, G5 from the projectors PJ4, PJ5 are in contact with the left and right sides of the partial image G3 from the projector PJ3. Project.

  By performing such display, display is performed by two or more projectors (two projectors in this example) in any region of the large screen image formed by the partial images G1 and G2. . FIG. 1 described above shows this state.

  1 and 2, each projector PJ1 to PJ5 projects partial images G1 to G5 having the same size on the screen. For this reason, in the effective image display area A, the partial images G1 and G3 from the projectors PJ1 and PJ3 are respectively displayed by 50% overlapping the partial image G2 from the projector PJ2, and similarly, from the projector PJ4. The partial images G3 and G5 from the projectors PJ3 and PJ5 are displayed in an overlapping manner by 50% with respect to the partial image G4.

  Here, in order to form a large screen image using partial images from a plurality of projectors (in the example of the first embodiment, five projectors PJ1 to PJ5), several display parameters are required. Examples of the display parameter include a luminance weighting parameter for making the boundary between adjacent partial images inconspicuous, and a parameter for correcting a difference in luminance and color characteristics of each projector. In the embodiment of the present invention, in order to simplify the description, a luminance weighting parameter is considered as the display parameter.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the effective image display area A is displayed using five projectors PJ1 to PJ5, the luminance weighting parameter is used to display the luminance on the partial images projected by the projectors PJ1 to PJ5. Perform weighting. By superimposing the luminance-weighted images, it is possible to display an image with uniform brightness in which the boundary is difficult to see in the effective image display area A.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a luminance weighting pattern (simply referred to as a weighting pattern) corresponding to a luminance weighting parameter (simply referred to as a weighting parameter) used in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment. When the display as shown in FIG. 1 is performed, the weighting pattern WP4 shown in FIG. 3D for the projectors PJ1, PJ2, and PJ3, and the weighting pattern WP2 shown in FIG. 3B for the projector PJ4. A weighting pattern WP3 shown in FIG. 3C is used for the projector PJ5.

  Each projector PJ1 to PJ5 uses the weighting parameters corresponding to these weighting patterns to perform image display processing on the image data corresponding to the partial image assigned to the projector PJ1 to PJ5 in the effective image display area A. It is possible to display an image with uniform brightness where the boundary is difficult to see.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which display of a certain projector among a plurality of projectors constituting the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment is disabled. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the central projector PJ3 cannot be displayed for some reason and a partial image from the projector PJ3 is missing. As described above, when the projector PJ3 cannot be displayed for some reason, the partial image G3 from the projector PJ3 is lost, so that the central portion and the periphery thereof in the effective image display area A become dark as shown in FIG. It becomes an image.

At this time, in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment, the projector PJ3 that cannot be displayed is displayed on the projectors PJ1 and PJ2 that display at least a part of the same area as the area of the partial image that the projector PJ3 displays. A signal (referred to as a display abnormality signal) for notifying that an abnormality (display is impossible) is transmitted. As a result, the projectors PJ1 and PJ2 that perform overlapping display with the projector PJ3 receive the display abnormality signal and change the display parameters. That is, the weighting parameter corresponding to the display abnormality at that time is selected from the weighting parameters stored in itself (projectors PJ1, PJ2) (in this example, the weighting parameters corresponding to the weighting pattern shown in FIG. 3). select. In the embodiment of the present invention, for example, “a projector that displays at least a part of the same area as a partial image displayed by itself” is referred to as “a projector that performs overlapping display with itself”. It will be expressed as follows.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of changing a weighting pattern when display failure occurs in a projector among a plurality of projectors constituting the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4, and is a case where the projector PJ3 cannot display.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the projector PJ3 becomes incapable of display, the projector PJ3 gives a display abnormality signal (simply indicated as “abnormal” in FIG. 5) to the projectors PJ1 and PJ2 that perform overlapping display with itself. Sent. In addition, each projector PJ1-PJ5 shall transmit the information which shows normality with respect to the projector which performs an overlapping display between self, when confidence is not display abnormality.

  Then, when a display abnormality signal is transmitted from the projector PJ3 having a display abnormality, as shown in FIG. 5, the weighting pattern of the projector PJ1 on the left side that performs overlapping display with the projector PJ3 is obtained from the weighting pattern WP4. The weighting pattern WP8 is changed, and in the projector PJ2 on the right side, the weighting pattern is changed from the weighting pattern WP4 to the weighting pattern WP7. As a result, the inconvenience that the central portion and its periphery in the effective image display area A due to the lack of the partial image G3 from the projector PJ3 is eliminated.

  At this time, the partial image G3 from the projector PJ3 may be missing, so that the boundary of the joint portion between the partial image G1 of the projector PJ1 and the partial image G2 of the projector PJ2 may be visible. However, even when a certain projector becomes unable to display, the display can be continued without greatly degrading the quality of the entire display image, and the reliability of the multi-projection system can be improved.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of image display processing in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment. The processing procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is substantially common to the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment and the multi-projection system according to the second embodiment described later. Here, the operation corresponding to the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the display timing comes from the waiting state for display timing (step S1), each projector determines whether or not its display is normal (step S2), and if the display is normal Then, it notifies the other projectors that are displaying overlapping with itself that the display is normal (step S3). In addition, information indicating a display state (a state indicating whether the display is normal) from another projector (a projector performing overlapping display with itself) is received (step S4). Note that it is possible to determine whether or not the display of its own projector in step S2 is normal using a self-monitor function or the like that each projector has.

  When information indicating the determination result in step S2 and information such as the display state of another projector in step S4 are acquired, display parameters (weighting parameters, etc.) necessary for display are obtained based on the acquired information. It acquires from the memory | storage part 14 (refer FIG. 7) (step S5). Also, display image data corresponding to the partial image assigned to itself is acquired (step S6), the display image data is modulated using the display parameter selected in step S5 (step S7), and assigned to itself. A partial image is displayed (step S8).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the display of the projector itself is abnormal, a projector display abnormality signal for performing overlapping display with the projector is transmitted (step S9), and the projector is not displayed. The state is set (step S10) and the process returns to step S1. Note that the reason for returning to step S1 after putting the projector in the non-display state is a case where the possibility of recovery after the non-display state is taken into consideration, but the possibility of recovery after the non-display state is entered. If not considered, the processing of the projector is terminated when the non-display state is set.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a projector used in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of one projector. As shown in FIG. 7, the projector used in the multi-projection system according to Embodiment 1 includes an image display processing unit 10, a light source unit 21, a display element unit 22, and a projection optical system unit 23. .

  The image display processing unit 10 includes a display abnormality detection unit 11, a display abnormality signal transmission unit 12, a display abnormality signal reception unit 13, a display parameter storage unit 14, a display parameter selection unit 15, and a display image data input unit 16. And a display image data modulating unit 17.

  The display abnormality detection unit 11 detects its own display abnormality, and the self-monitoring function that the projector normally has can be used as it is. Note that display abnormalities include a state where the projector cannot display, a state where the display of the projector becomes unstable, and a state where a partial image is missing from the projector. In the multi-projection system according to aspect 1, a state in which display is disabled is regarded as display abnormality. Further, it is assumed that the display failure in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment is that a partial image from the projector is lost due to a cause of the projector itself such as a lamp burnout or a power supply circuit failure.

When a display abnormality is detected by the display abnormality detection unit 11, the display abnormality signal transmission unit 12 transmits a display abnormality signal indicating that a display abnormality has occurred to the projector that performs overlapping display with itself. It has a function to do.
The display abnormality signal receiving unit 13 has a function of receiving a display abnormality signal from a projector that performs overlapping display with itself.

  The display parameter storage unit 14 stores display parameters necessary for displaying the display image data input from the display image data input unit 16. The display parameter storage unit 14 may store only display parameters necessary when a projector that performs display overlapping with its own projector becomes incapable of display, and other arbitrary projectors may display abnormalities. In such a case, display parameters necessary in the event of a failure may be stored.

  Here, as the display parameters stored in the display parameter storage unit 14, in addition to the weighting parameters corresponding to the weighting patterns as shown in FIG. Parameters are also included.

The display parameter selection unit 15 has a function of selecting a display parameter corresponding to the display state at that time from the display parameter storage unit 14.
As a specific example, when only the weighting parameter is considered as the display parameter, as shown in the example of FIG. 5, when the projector PJ1 and PJ2 receive a display abnormality signal from the projector PJ3, the display parameter selection unit 15 of the projector PJ1 Then, the weighting parameter corresponding to the weighting pattern WP8 is selected from the display parameter storage unit 14, and the display parameter selection unit 15 of the projector PJ2 selects the weighting parameter corresponding to the weighting pattern WP7 from the display parameter storage unit 14.

Then, projectors PJ1 and PJ2 display partial images assigned to projectors PJ1 and PJ2 using the selected weighting parameters. That is, in the image display processing unit 10 of each projector PJ1, PJ2, the display image data modulation unit 17 is assigned to each projector PJ1, PJ2 using the weighting parameters corresponding to the weighting patterns WP8, WP7 selected by the display parameter storage unit 14. The display image data corresponding to the assigned partial image is modulated. Actually, parameters for correcting luminance and color characteristics of each projector are also selected and given to the display image data modulating unit 17 together with the weighting parameters.

  In FIG. 7, the connection between the projectors of the display abnormality signal transmitting unit 12 and the display abnormality signal receiving unit 13 of each projector may be such that the projectors are individually connected by a cable or the like. A bus-type connection may be used, and further, communication means such as a network may be used.

  As described above, in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment, each projector has a function of detecting the presence or absence of its own display abnormality and a function of storing display parameters corresponding to the display abnormality. Accordingly, when a display abnormality occurs in each projector, each projector gives a display abnormality signal to the projector that performs a display overlapping with itself. In addition, when a display abnormality signal is received from a projector that performs a display overlapping with itself, a display parameter corresponding to the signal is selected, and the display image data to be displayed is modulated using the selected display parameter. Display.

  Since the projector constituting the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment has such a function, even when a certain projector becomes incapable of display, an overlapping display with the projector incapable of displaying is performed. The projector to be used performs display by modulating the display image data using display parameters corresponding to the display abnormality.

  Thereby, even when display failure occurs in a certain projector among the projectors constituting the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment, the display can be continued without greatly degrading the quality of the entire display image, and the multi-projection system Reliability can be improved.

  In addition, the projector constituting the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment is not a special projector, but has a small function (a mechanism for transmitting its own display abnormality signal, a mechanism for receiving a display abnormality signal). In other words, it is advantageous in terms of cost because it is only necessary to add a function for storing display parameters. Further, since a mechanism for operating a plurality of projectors like a single projector is not required, there is no need to perform fine adjustment between the projectors.

  In the above description, a case where a plurality of projectors are displayed as a one-dimensional array has been described. However, the same can be applied to a case where a plurality of projectors are displayed as a two-dimensional array.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example in which a plurality of projectors are displayed as a two-dimensional array.
In FIG. 8, an area indicated by a bold line is an effective image display area A. To display the effective image display area A, four projectors PJ1 to PJ4 may be used, but as in the case of FIGS. In order to make the boundaries of the partial images G1 to G4 from the projectors PJ1 to PJ4 inconspicuous, nine projectors PJ5 to PJ13 (projectors PJ6 to PJ13 are not shown) are used. Then, the partial images G5 to G13 from these nine projectors PJ5 to PJ13 are displayed in duplicate on the partial images G1 to G4 of the four projectors PJ1 to PJ4. By performing the display as shown in FIG. 8, the display is performed by two or more projectors (two in this example) in any of the regions constituting the partial images G1 to G4.

  In the example of FIG. 8, the partial images G5 to G13 from the nine projectors PJ5 to PJ13 are 50% each in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction with respect to the partial images G1 to G4 from the four projectors PJ1 to PJ4. It is the example projected so that it may overlap.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing weighting patterns corresponding to partial images from the projectors of a plurality of projectors arranged as shown in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display state when each projector performs projection using the weighting parameter corresponding to the weighting pattern of FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display state when a projector out of a plurality of projectors arranged as shown in FIG. 8 cannot be displayed.

  Weighting patterns WP11 to WP14 shown in FIG. 9A are weighting patterns corresponding to partial images G1 to G4 of projectors PJ1 to PJ4 in FIG. 8, and weighting patterns WP15 to WP23 shown in FIG. 8 is a weighting pattern corresponding to the partial images G5 to G13 of the projectors PJ5 to PJ13.

  Each projector uses a weighting parameter corresponding to the weighting pattern as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B to modulate the display image data, and as shown in FIG. Then, it is possible to display an image with uniform brightness where the boundary is difficult to see.

  Here, let us consider a case where a projector PJ9 (a projector that projects a partial image G9 at the center of the effective image display area A), which is not shown, becomes undisplayable. As a result, the partial image G9 of the projector PJ9 is lost, so that an image in which the central portion and the periphery thereof are dark as shown in FIG.

  At this time, the projector PJ9 that has become non-displayable transmits a display abnormality signal to the projectors (in this case, the projectors PJ1 to PJ4) that perform overlapping display with itself. Thereby, the projectors PJ1 to PJ4 receive the display abnormality signal and change the display parameter. That is, the weighting parameter corresponding to the state is selected from various display parameters (considering only the weighting parameter) stored in itself (projectors PJ1 to PJ4).

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a weighting pattern used when the projector PJ9 cannot display in the display state as shown in FIG. In FIG. 12, a weighting pattern WP24 is a weighting pattern selected by the projector PJ1, a weighting pattern WP25 is a weighting pattern selected by the projector PJ2, a weighting pattern WP26 is a weighting pattern selected by the projector PJ3, and a weighting pattern WP27 is a projector PJ4. Is the selected weighting pattern.

Thus, projectors PJ1 to PJ4 that perform overlapping display with projector PJ9 that has become unable to display select weighting patterns WP24 to WP27 as shown in FIG. 12, and correspond to the selected weighting patterns WP24 to WP27. The projectors PJ1 to PJ4 modulate the display image data using the weighting parameters to be displayed. As a result, the inconvenience that the central portion of the effective image display area A and the periphery thereof become dark due to the partial image of the projector PJ9 being lost is solved.

  At this time, the boundary between the joint portions of the partial images G1 to G4 of the projectors PJ1 to PJ4 may be seen due to the lack of the partial image G3 of the projector PJ9. However, even if a certain projector becomes unable to display, the display can be continued without greatly reducing the quality of the entire display image, and the reliability of the multi-projection system can be improved.

  Although FIG. 12 shows only a specific weighting pattern, various weighting patterns are prepared.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a weighting pattern used when the projector PJ3 cannot display in the display state as shown in FIG. That is, the weighting pattern WP28 shown in FIG. 13 is the weighting pattern used for the partial image G8 of the projector PJ8, the weighting pattern WP29 is the weighting pattern used for the partial image G9 of the projector PJ9, and the weighting pattern WP30 is the partial image G11 of the projector PJ11. The weighting pattern used, the weighting pattern WP31, is a weighting pattern used for the partial image G12 of the projector PJ12.

  When the projector that performs display overlapping with the projector PJ3 performs image display processing using such a weighting pattern, display that compensates for the lack of the partial image G3 of the projector PJ3 becomes possible.

[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, each projector itself detects a display abnormality of its own projector. The cause of the display abnormality is not only due to the failure of each projector itself, but may exist outside the projector. As shown in FIG. 14, there is a person or an obstacle in front of a certain projector. An example is a case where the projection is interrupted by and the partial image by the projector is lost on the screen.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a multi-projection system according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 14, in order to simplify the description, an example in which the projectors are arranged in a one-dimensional array only in the horizontal direction will be described as in FIG. 1 in the first embodiment.

  The multi-projection system according to the second embodiment is different from the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment in that display abnormality is detected based on imaging data from the imaging device 31 instead of individual projectors.

  That is, the multi-projection system according to the second embodiment includes the display image monitoring unit 30 that monitors the entire display image on the screen, and the display images by a plurality of projectors (also five projectors PJ1 to PJ5 in this case). The whole is imaged by the imaging device 31, and the display abnormality detection unit 32 detects a display abnormality based on the imaging data output from the imaging device 31, and identifies the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred. Then, the display abnormality signal transmission unit 33 transmits a display abnormality signal to the projector that performs overlapping display between the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred and the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred.

As shown in FIG. 14, the presence of a person or the like in front of the projector PJ3 blocks the projection of the projector PJ3, resulting in a state where a part or the whole of the partial image by the projector is lost on the screen. If this is detected by the imaging data from the imaging device 31, a display abnormality signal is transmitted to each of the projectors PJ2 and PJ4 performing overlapping display between the projector PJ3 and the projector PJ3.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, the projector itself is not caused by a lamp burnout or the like, and the projection from the projector is completely blocked so that the partial image by the projector is lost on the screen. Assume that the projector is in a display disabled state.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of projectors PJ1, PJ2,... And a display image monitoring unit 30 used in the multi-projection system according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 15, the display image monitoring unit 30 detects a display abnormality based on the imaging device 31 and imaging data from the imaging device 31 and has a function of identifying a projector in which the display abnormality has occurred. It has the detection part 32 and the display abnormality signal transmission part 33 which has a function which transmits a display abnormality signal to projector PJ1, PJ2, ....

  In addition, the projectors PJ1, PJ2,... Used in the multi-projection system according to the second embodiment do not include the display abnormality detection unit 11 and the display abnormality signal transmission unit 12 with respect to the configuration of the projector shown in FIG. However, since the other configuration is the same as that of FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions.

  The imaging device 31 is preferably installed so that a display image on the screen can be appropriately captured without being affected by disturbance. This is because the projection state from the projector may not be able to be accurately determined when the influence of the disturbance enters the imaging data.

  In the multi-projection system according to the second embodiment, it is preferable that the distance between the projectors that perform overlapping display (for example, the projector PJ1 and the projector PJ3, the projector PJ2 and the projector PJ3, etc.) be as large as possible. In this way, by making the interval between projectors that perform overlapping display as large as possible, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, when the projector PJ3 is in a display abnormal state due to the projection of the projector PJ3 being blocked. Even in such a case, the lack of partial images from the projector PJ3 can be compensated by the projectors PJ1 and PJ2 that perform overlapping display with the projector PJ3.

  This is one of the features of the multi-projection system according to the second embodiment. That is, as in the second embodiment in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 described in the section of the prior art, in a usage in which two stacked projectors are operated as a set, the projection of a certain projector is blocked. In such a state, there is a problem that the projections from the two projectors constituting the set are both blocked, but the multi-projection system according to the second embodiment of the present invention avoids this. Can do.

  In the multi-projection system according to the second embodiment, display abnormality detection and display abnormality signal transmission are not performed by each projector but by the display image monitoring unit 30, but the basic flow of image display processing is as follows. The flowchart of FIG. 6 can be used.

In the flowchart of FIG. 6, in a state where the projection is interrupted due to the presence of a person or the like in front of a certain projector, the display of the projector may be restored by the person standing in front of the projector leaving. There is. For this reason, in the multi-projection system according to the second embodiment, the projector in which the display is abnormal is not displayed (
After step S10), it is possible to return to step S1 and perform the processing after step S1.

  Further, since the processing after the abnormality detection is performed can be performed in the same manner as the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here. Further, when the projector is arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, it can be implemented in the same manner as described above.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the correction process based on the premise that the projector cannot display, that is, the entire partial image from the projector is missing on the screen is considered as the display abnormality. However, a display abnormality is also included when the entire partial image is not lost on the screen. For example, the display has become unstable due to lamp deterioration or the projection light is not completely blocked, but as described above, the partial image by the projector is partially blocked on the screen. It can be said that the display state is also abnormal.

  In this way, when the display becomes unstable or the partial image is partially lost, it is possible to treat the projector as a non-display state and treat it as if it cannot be displayed. is there. In this case, a projector that transmits a display abnormality signal to a projector that performs overlapping display with a projector that is in a non-display state, and performs a display that overlaps with the projector that is in a non-display state is implemented. The same processing as described in the first and second embodiments is performed. As a result, even when a display is unstable or a display abnormality occurs such that a partial image is partially lost, the display can be continued without greatly degrading the quality of the entire display image. The reliability of the system can be improved.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the correction of the luminance of the joint portion by the weighting parameter is an example of electronically (software-like) performed by the display image data modulation unit 17, but is optically performed by a light shielding plate or the like. It is also possible to use both of them.

In addition, information processing equipment to which the projector is connected may include all or some of the functions such as display abnormality detection, display abnormality signal transmission, display abnormality signal reception, display parameter selection, and display parameter storage. (Personal computer etc.) can also be provided.
Further, in each of the foregoing embodiments, the image display processing unit 10 has a configuration that each of the projectors PJ1, PJ2,... Has, but is not limited thereto, and information processing to which the projector is connected is performed. It is good also as a structure which an apparatus (personal computer etc.) has.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, two or more projectors overlap each other in any of the areas composing a partial image from M (M is an integer of 2 or more) projectors. In the configuration in which N projectors (N is an integer equal to or greater than 1) are further arranged, M = 2 and N = 3 in the example of FIG. 1, and M = 4 and N in the example of FIG. The example in which = 9 has been described, but in order to make two or more projectors perform overlapping display on the area in any of the areas constituting the partial image, such a display method is used. It is not limited to.

For example, a configuration may be adopted in which two (N = 2) projectors capable of projecting each partial image are arranged so as to correspond to the partial images from two (M = 2) projectors, respectively. . Similarly, one projector (N = 1) capable of projecting one partial image including partial images from two (M = 2) projectors may be arranged. Is possible.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement example of projectors in the multiprojection system according to the first embodiment. It is a figure explaining the arrangement | positioning procedure of a projector as shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a weighting pattern corresponding to a weighting parameter used in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a display operation of a certain projector among a plurality of projectors configuring the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment is disabled. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of changing a weighting pattern when display impossibility occurs in a projector among a plurality of projectors constituting the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of image display processing in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a projector used in the multi-projection system according to the first embodiment. The figure explaining the example which displays a some projector as a two-dimensional arrangement | sequence. The figure which shows the weighting pattern corresponding to the partial image from each projector of the some projector arrange | positioned as shown in FIG. The figure which shows the display state when each projector has projected using the weighting parameter corresponding to the weighting pattern of FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display state when a projector out of a plurality of projectors arranged as shown in FIG. The figure which shows the weighting pattern used when the projector PJ9 becomes impossible to display in the display state as shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the weighting pattern used when the projector PJ3 becomes impossible to display in the display state as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a multi-projection system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a projector and a display image monitoring unit used in a multi-projection system according to a second embodiment. The figure explaining the example which displays an image by a time division.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image display processing part, 11, 32 ... Display abnormality detection part, 12, 33 ... Display abnormality signal transmission part, 13 ... Display abnormality signal reception part, 14 ... Display parameter memory | storage part 15... Display parameter selection unit 16. Display image data input unit 17. Display image data modulation unit 30. ... Imaging device, 104 ... Display image data input unit, 105 ... Display image data modulation unit, A ... Effective image display area, G1-G13 ... Partial image, PJ1-PJ5 ... Projector, WP1 to WP8, WP11 to WP31 ... weighting pattern

Claims (9)

A multi-projection system in which M (M is an integer of 2 or more) projectors can display images as a set of partial images by displaying partial images assigned to each projector,
The multi-projection system includes:
N projectors (N is an integer of 1 or more) for displaying partial images assigned to the projectors are further arranged so that two or more projectors perform display in any region of the image,
When a display abnormality occurs in at least one of the M or N projectors, the projector is assigned to a projector that displays at least a part of the same area as the partial image displayed by the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred. A multi-projection system, comprising: an image display processing unit that performs image display processing of image data corresponding to a given partial image using display parameters corresponding to the display abnormality. The multi-projection system according to claim 1.
The image display processing unit
A display abnormality signal receiving unit for receiving a display abnormality signal indicating the display abnormality;
A display parameter selector for selecting a display parameter corresponding to the display abnormality signal received by the display abnormality signal receiver;
The multi-projection system further comprising: The multi-projection system according to claim 1 or 2,
The multi-projection system, wherein the image display processing unit further includes a display parameter storage unit that stores display parameters corresponding to the display abnormality. In the multi-projection system in any one of Claims 1-3,
The image display processing unit further includes a display abnormality detection unit that detects a display abnormality, and when the display abnormality detection unit detects that a display abnormality has occurred in a certain projector, the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred is displayed. A display abnormality signal indicating that the display is abnormal is transmitted to a projector that displays at least a part of the same area as a partial image area to be displayed. In the multi-projection system in any one of Claims 1-3,
A display image monitoring unit capable of monitoring an image displayed on the screen; and when the display image monitoring unit detects that a display abnormality has occurred in a certain projector, the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred and the display A multi-projection system, wherein a display abnormality signal indicating the display abnormality is transmitted to a projector that displays at least a part of the same area as a partial image displayed by a projector in which an abnormality has occurred. In the multi-projection system in any one of Claims 1-5,
The display abnormality includes at least one of a state in which the projector cannot be displayed, a state in which the display of the projector has become unstable, and a state in which a partial loss has occurred in the partial image displayed by the projector,
The multi-projection system characterized in that the projector stops its own display operation when the display becomes unstable and when the displayed partial image is partially missing. In the multi-projection system in any one of Claims 1-6,
The display parameter includes at least one of a luminance weighting parameter for making a boundary between adjacent projection images inconspicuous and a parameter for correcting a difference in luminance and color characteristics of each projector. Multi-projection system characterized by An image display method in a multi-projection system in which M (M is an integer of 2 or more) projectors can display images as a set of partial images by displaying partial images assigned to each projector,
N projectors (N is an integer of 1 or more) for displaying partial images assigned to the projectors are further arranged so that two or more projectors perform display in any region of the image,
When a display abnormality occurs in at least one of the M or N projectors, the projector is assigned to a projector that displays at least a part of the same area as the partial image displayed by the projector in which the display abnormality has occurred. An image display method in a multi-projection system, wherein image data corresponding to a given partial image is subjected to image display processing using display parameters corresponding to the display abnormality.   The M projectors (M is an integer of 2 or more) can display images as a set of the partial images by displaying the partial images assigned thereto, and in any region of the images And a projector for use in a multi-projection system in which N projectors (N is an integer of 1 or more) are further arranged so that two or more projectors perform display. When a display abnormality occurs in the projector that displays at least a part of the same area as the area of the partial image assigned to itself, the partial image assigned to itself is image-processed according to the display parameter corresponding to the display abnormality. Based on the corresponding image data, displaying the partial image assigned to itself Projector for the butterflies.